Tanning composition and process

ABSTRACT

A tanning composition and process, the composition including a salt of carbonic acid, arsenic trioxide, a polar solvent and a liquid organic cleanser all mixed with sufficient ground asbestos to give a spreadable texture to the composition. The process includes placing the described tanning composition on the flesh side of the skin and allowing the composition to remain until dry or crystallized whereupon the dry composition is removed by abrading.

Larsen Nov. 26, 1974.

[ TANNING COMPOSITION AND PROCESS [76] Inventor: Reid S. Larsen, 762 S.850 East,

Bountiful, Utah 84010 [22] Filed: Jan. 11, 1973 [21] Appl. No; 322,815

[52] US. Cl, 8/94.l9 R, 8/94.]8 [51] Int. Cl. C140 3/02, C140 3/04 [58]Field of Search 8/94.18, 94.19 R, 94.22

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 110,562 12/1870 Fuller etal. 8/9422 118,746 9/1871 Rock 8/94.18 1,567,644 8/1921 Hell...'......8/94.19 R 3,512,918 5/1970 Endres'et al. 8/94.]9 R

OTHER PUBLlCATlONS I Chakrovorty et al., Uncommon Inorganic Tannagesv01. XLII No. 1 Jan. 1958 pp. 2-10.

' Pavis; Manufacture of Leather 1885 London pp.

52-53 Journal of Society of Leather Trades Chemist.

Primary Examiner-Benjamin R. Padgett Assistant Examiner-B. HuntAttorney, Agent, or Firm-H. Ross Workman [5 7] ABSTRACT A tanningcomposition and process, the composition including a salt of carbonicacid, arsenic trioxide, a

polar solvent and a liquid organic cleanser all mixed fwith sufficientground asbestos to give a spreadable texture to the composition. Theprocess-includes placing the described tanning composition on the fleshside of the skin and allowing the composition to remain until dryorcrystallized whereupon the dry composition is removed by abrading.

5 Claims, No Drawings TANNING COMPOSITION AND PROCESS BACKGROUND 1.Field of the Invention The invention relates to the tanning of hides andskins and more particularly to a novel tanning composition of matterwhich is both easy to use and effective in tanning hides and a processfor using same.

2. The Prior Art Numerous tanning compositions are known in the art.However, the texture of the various compositions often makes thecomposition extremely difficult to work with. For example, powders areuniformly applied only with great difficulty and uneven applicationtends to reduce the quality of the tan.

Liquid tanning compositions are also used with difficulty. Many liquidtanning compositions are often very unstable and vital componentsrapidly precipitate making a suitable uniform tan difficult if notimpossible. Frequently, liquid tanning compositions must be freshlyprepared and used with costly and complicated machinery to obtain aneffective tan. Machine tanning often undesirably adversely affects thequality of furbearing pelts and is most undesirable when the tanned peltis to be taxidermically restored.

In the treatment of hides and pelts, it is desirable to have a tanningcomposition which is easily applied, effects an adequate tan and willnot injure the hide or pelt even though the composition is left on thepelt for an extended period of time. This present invention uniquelyaccommodates these desirable advantages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention,including composition of matter and process, provides a tanningcomposition containing ground asbestos'which prevents prematureseparation of solids from solution and at the same time gives thetanning composition a texture which accommodates facile handling. Thecomposition and method allow pelts to be tanned without injury eventhough the tanning composition remains on the pelt for an extendedperiod of time.

It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide anovel tanning composition.

. It is another primary object of the present invention to provide animproved method of tanning hides and pelts without injury thereto. 1

These and other objects and features of the present invention willbecome more fully apparent from the following description and appendedclaims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS THE COMPOSITION Thepresently preferred tanning composition is a combination of arsenictrioxide and salt of carbonic acid in a polar solvent such as methanol.This portion of the composition is effective to tan most pelts but it isoften desirable to simultaneously cleanse the flesh side of the peltwithout damage thereto. Accordingly, a quantity of kerosene is added tofacilitate cleansing fatty material from the pelt in concert with thetanning process. Any suitable organic cleaner that will not interferewith the tanning process could be used. It has been found that thesolids in this preparation can be maintained essentially uniformlydisbursed by mixing sufficient ground asbestos to give the composition aviscous, paste-like consistency. The asbestos is resistent todegradation by the chemical components of the composition and lendsconsistency to the composition without significantly adversely affectingthe tanning process.

Preferably, a suitable anti-bacterial agent such as sodiumpentachlorophenol is used to minimize the bacterial degradation of thepelt. Also, it is often desirable to use a suitable conventionalcoloring agent to finish the tanned pelt.

The following examples illustrate the invention:

EXAMPLE 1 A composition for tanning pelts was prepared having theformulation shown in Table A. I

TABLE A Ingredient Amount- Sodium bicarbonate 200 lbs Arsenic trioxide.25 lbs Sodium pentachlorophenol .375 lbs Ground asbestos 1 lb Methanol6 quarts Kerosene 44 quarts The composition was prepared by thoroughlymixing a EXAMPLE 2 A composition was formed as described in Example 1except that the amount of sodium bicarbonate was reduced to pounds. Thepelt was adequately tanned when used as described above.

EXAMPLE 3 A composition was prepared as in Example 1. except that thesodium bicarbonate was increased to 230 pounds. In this example, the tanof the pelt was not as advanced after 24 hours as 'was evident in theExample 1 composition.

EXAMPLE 4 A composition was prepared as in Example 1 except that sodiumcarbonate was substituted for sodium 'bicarbonate. The tanning abilityof the composition was somewhat adversely affected.

EXAMPLE 5 A composition was prepared as in Example 1 except thatpotassium bicarbonate .was substituted for sodium bicarbonate. Thetanning ability of the composition was somewhat adversely affected.

EXAMPLE 6 A series of compositions having the proportions set forth inExample 1 were prepared except that the EXAMPLE 7 It was found that theamount of kerosene set forth in Table 1 could be varied in amounts fromat least as low as 30 quarts to at least as high as 60 quarts withoutadversely affecting the tanning ability of the formulation. It wasobserved, however, that if the amount of kerosene was alteredsubstantially, the amount of ground asbestos required correspondingadjustment to effect desirable viscosity.

THE PROCESS The tanning composition set forth above is placed on theflesh side of a pelt by spreading the composition in a thin layer overthe pelt. Preferably, the thickness of the composition is less thanone-quarter inch. The composition is allowed to remain on the peltpreferably until the composition has dried to crystals. Normally, dryingwill take place in 24 to 48 hours. It has been found, however, thattanning may be complete before the composition is completely dry.

The crystallized composition is preferably removed from the skin byabrading with an abrasive such as sandpaper. As the composition isremoved, the pelt is tanned and completely freed of fatty material.Moreover, the abrasive imparts a highly desirable softness into thepelt.

When the tanning composition has been removed, it is sometimes desirableto treat the pelt with conventional oil or the like which furthersoftens the pelt and may preserve the pelt from drying. Also, ifdesired, the pelt can be colored at this point in the process.

Where coloration of the pelt is desirable, conventional coloringmaterial may be dissolved with the sodium pentachlorophenol in methanolas described in Example 1. The color will then be imparted to the peltupon application of the tanning composition.

The invention may be embodied in'other specific forms without departingfrom its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodimentsare to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and notrestrictive and the scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated bythe appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. Allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are to be embraced within their scope.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States lettersPatent is:

1. A tanning composition comprising arsenic trioxide; a polar solvent; aliquid organic cleanser and ground asbestos together with a salt ofcarbonic acid selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate,sodium bicarbonate, potassium carbonate and potassium bicarbonate.

2. A tanning composition as defined in claim 1 further comprising ananti-bacterial agent.

3. A tanning composition as defined in. claim 2 wherein saidanti-bacterial agent is sodium pentachlorophenol.

4. A process for tanning a skin comprising:

placing on the flesh side of the skin a thin layer of tanningcomposition comprising arsenic trioxide, a polar solvent, a liquidorganic cleanser and ground asbestos and a salt of carbonic acidselected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, sodiumbicarbonate, potassium carbonate and potassium bicarbonate; 1

allowing the tanning composition to remain upon the skin until dry; and

removing the dried composition by rubbing with an abrasive.

5. A method of tanning a skin as defined in claim 4 further comprisingtreating the skin with oil by rubbing oil on the tanned surface.

1. A TANNING COMPOSITION COMPRISING ARSENIC TRIOXIDE; A POLAR SOLVENT; ALIQUID ORGANIC CLEANSER AND GROUND ASBESTOS TOGETHER WITH A SALT OFCARBONIC ACID SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF SODIUM CARBONATE,SODIUM BICARBONATE, POTASSIUM CARBONATE AND POTASSIUM BICARBONATE.
 2. Atanning composition as defined in claim 1 further comprising ananti-bacterial agent.
 3. A tanning composition as defined in claim 2wherein said anti-bacterial agent is sodium pentachlorophenol.
 4. Aprocess for tanning a skin comprising: placing on the flesh side of theskin a thin layer of tanning composition comprising arsenic trioxide, apolar solvent, a liquid organic cleanser and ground asbestos and a saltof carbonic acid selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate,sodium bicarbonate, potassium carbonate and potassium bicarbonate;allowing the tanning composition to remain upon the skin until dry; andremoving the dried composition by rubbing with an abrasive.
 5. A methodof tanning a skin as defined in claim 4 further comprising treating theskin with oil by rubbing oil on the tanned surface.